RECENTLY, Tanzania Standard Newspapers Limited (TSN) organized a business forum in Simiyu Region. The forum brought together small and big investors, entrepreneurs, corporate, political leaders and ordinary wananchi.
In general the forum succeeded to bring
together development stakeholders who managed to use the platform to
share experience and skills on how to do businesses, establish
investments and boost economic activities in the region.
Simiyu is among the new regions in the
country. The region marks fifth year this year since it was established
in 2012. In other words, Simiyu is still a new region among 30
administrative regions in the country and thus it needs special
attention for business and investment.
Being a new region, Simiyu has potential
areas for investments for both local and foreign investors. The
Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Anthony Mtaka said his office invites
both investors and customers to buy products that are produced in
Simiyu.
According to the arrangement, all five
districts of the region will carefully select an area of economy with
Maswa already earmarking to invest seriously in chalk production, Busega
in irrigation farming and Meatu in dairy farming, meat and milk
processing factories.
The rest of Bariadi and Itilima are
still working on their strategic areas. The region has so far
established a policy, which states that ‘buy or hire’, this means one
must choose between to buy or to hire.
Thus, one of the two must be done.
During the business forum, which took place in Simiyu Region recently,
participants discussed various issues, which aimed at boosting both the
region’s economic status and improve social services.
The forum participants used 660 minutes
from morning to evening to discuss and strategize on how to make things
move forward in the new region. Busega MP, Dr Raphael Chegeni was among
hundreds of participants who greatly shared ideas that could help to
bring positive changes in the region.
Among other issues, the MP called for
financial institution to open branches in the region so that financial
transactions cold be carried out easily. He said Simiyu farmers and
livestock farmers earn a lot from their activities but it has been
difficult for them to access financial services.
Why should you invest in Simiyu Region?
The region is suitable for investment due to good climate, which is
suitable for tourism, agriculture and livestock production. Peace and
political stability that offers a safe environment with low crime rates
is another attracting factor for establishing investment in the region.
Thus investors have no reason to worry
for the safety of their investment in the area. Moreover, hardworking
and inexpensive local communities with adequate skills in modern farming
practices to support the growth of industries is another major factor
that assure investors of reliable support in the establishment and
development of various investments in the region.
Transport links with other regions and
proximity to neighboring countries is another important factor that
attracts investors in the region.
Simiyu Region is linked to Kenya,
Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and DRC. The major areas of investments that
were exposed during the forum include agriculture, livestock keeping,
fishing and industries.
The current investment situation in
Simiyu In monetary terms the Region is estimated to have GDP at current
prices of 1,959,401m/- in 2010 contributing about 6.07 per cent of
National GDP.
The region also has per capital income
of 510,023/- ranking it among middle income earners in the country.
Agriculture Agriculture has continued to dominate the livelihood and
economic performance of Simiyu Region.
The sector contributes about 75 percent
to the Regional economy and employs about 80 percent of the active
population in the Region. The main cash crops grown are cotton,
groundnuts and sunflower.
While the main food crops are maize,
sorghum, paddy, sweet potatoes, millet and cassava. Simiyu Region covers
a total area of 23,807.7 square kilometers, which is equal to
23,807,700 hectares.
Arable land suitable for Agriculture is
11,479,100 hectares. Total area cultivated is 6,942,378 hectares which
is 60percent of the arable land. Irrigation Schemes: Total Regional Land
which is suitable for irrigation 61,542 hectares and the Land which is
being utilized according to 2011/12 data is only 14,766 hectares
(23.99%).
This Land under irrigation is usually
planted with paddy, maize and vegetables. Recently, it was established
that at least 3000 acreas of land have been allocated at Mwananyili area
in Busega District, Simiyu region for irrigation farming pilot study.
Simiyu Regional Commissioner (RC),
Anthony Mtaka revealed that the irrigation project is set to commence
next year. According to Mr Mtaka, Simiyu is expected to be the main food
producer in the country and that plans are in place to see such goals
being achieved.
He said Busega District is a 2017
priority district for agriculture in the region. “We are looking forward
to use Lake Victoria water for irrigation farming, our aim is to feed
Tanzania and other neighboring countries, this is possible and we are
prepared to do it,” he said.
He said that at the moment his office is
looking for an affordable irrigation model that will help them to
successful implement the project. Development stakeholders such as NMB,
TIB and others have been approached to chip-in to support the project.
“We have already asked NMB through their
agriculture window to support the project, we hope things will start to
happen soon,” he said. Busega is set to be an exemplar district in
irrigation farming across the country.
The type of agriculture, which is
expected to take place in Busega must be quite different from other
areas that have no access to Lake Victoria water. Irrigation farming in
Simiyu Region is another potential area for investment and thus
investors are invited to inject capital in the area.
Cotton When we talk about cotton
production in Tanzania, we are actually talking about Maswa cotton in
Simiyu Region. According to the statistics, Simiyu Region is so far the
leading cotton producer in Tanzania with over 150,000 tons of seed
cotton per annum.
In a bid to improve health services and
ensure reliable supply of medical materials, Simiyu Region is set to
become the main supplier of pharmaceutical products in the coming few
years following the ongoing plans to construct a big pharmaceutical
factory in the region.
Various governmental institutions have
teamed up to implement the multibillion project. The 250bn/- project is
expected to take off this year. The implementation of the project will
save the public fund, which is spent in importing drugs from abroad.
The government through Medical Store
Department (MSD) spends more than 48bn annually in importing drugs and
other pharmaceutical products from abroad. MSD gets about 80 per cent of
its supplies from outside.
Investors are invited to invest in
cotton growing and ginneries and other businesses. Livestock Livestock
keeping is the second Major economic activity of the region. Simiyu
Region has total number of 1.5 million heads of Cattles, 674,402 Goats,
254,746 Sheep, 1,501,146 Chicken, and 1, 723 pigs.
Marketing of Livestock and Livestock
products: A total of 96, 634,930,090/- was gained in three years
(2009-2012) after selling beef cattle, Goats and sheep. Five years
later, Simiyu Region is inviting investors to invest in livestock
industries for milk, meat as well as tanneries.
So far a Meatu Milk industry has already
been established by Meatu Milk Enterprise. The Simiyu Regional
Commissioner (RC), Mr Mtaka said his government was impressed by the
efforts applied by youth in establishing the idea and that it is fully
supporting the development and expansion of the industry.
“We are translating the fifth
government‘s ideas of industrialization into action, we want Simiyu to
move forward,” he said. According to Mr Wilson Samson, one of Meatu Milk
industry workers, the industry produces at least 150,000 litres of milk
per day.
“We are determined to increase
production and make sure Tanzanians consume their own products,” he
said. Chalk production Apart from agriculture and livestock, Simiyu
region’s initiatives to introduce small industries are seen in other
areas.
A group of youth in the region has shown
a committed spirit that has led to the establishment of chalk factory.
The factory is likely to gain more expansion if supported with loans
from the Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) and other resources.
In January, this year, President John
Magufuli visited Simiyu Region and Maswa chalks industry. He said he was
optimistic that when the factory is expanded and becomes full
operational, there would be no need for the country to import chalks and
hinted chalk imports may be subjected to heavy duties to promote local
production.
Fishing Fishing in Simiyu Region is
mainly done in Busega District on the shores of Lake Victoria, Lake
Kitangiri in Meatu District, rivers and dam reservoirs. However, there
are efforts of increasing fish production by breeding fingerlings mainly
for Tilapia species at Zanzui dam in Maswa District.
The produced fingerlings are used for
stocking into dam reservoirs and ponds for domestic fish farming.
Residents are currently advised to focus on pond fish keeping as well.
Investors are also invited in invest in
fish processing industries in the region. Vegetables business Farmers
are in serious need of vegetable seeds, packing materials and reliable
market.
This is an opportunity for both local
and international companies/investors to establish factories that will
produce vegetables and fruit packing materials to boost the businesses
in the area.
Ms Audoksia Charles said many
entrepreneurs face challenges on where to get packing materials for
their products. She said there is no reliable supplier or manufacturer
of such materials in the area.
“We are forced to travel to Mwanza or
wait for some traders to bring them here, but generally we need someone
to support us in this area, we need a serious investor,” she said.
According to 2012 National population
census result, population for Simiyu was estimated to be 1,591,000.
Being the new region with potential areas of investment, it is obvious
the population is growing from time to time and thus need expansion of
both socio-economic services.
It therefore high time both small and
big investors realize the opportunity in the region and allocate capital
in the area for super profit. The RC, Mr Mtaka assures: “no regret in
investing in Simiyu’. Buy or Hire from us”.
No comments :
Post a Comment